Long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of terror This phrase is attributed to many different people said to be describing many different professions. From driving big-rig trucks, flying aircraft to modern warfare. And of course, it has since been co-opted by the investment profession and by the best investors, as a metaphor for the vagaries of the market. Personally, I think it’s a bit dramatic comparing warfare with the buying and selling of stocks. True to form, financial media in the US announced 5th Feb 2018 was “the worst point decline in history“. Phrased like that you can’t help